Morfydd Llwyn Owen

Morfydd Llwyn Owen (1 October 1891 – 7 September 1918) was a Welsh composer, pianist and mezzo-soprano. A prolific composer, as well as a member of influential intellectual circles, she died shortly before her 27th birthday. Early life and education Owen was born in Treforest, Wales on 1 October 1891 to William Owen, an accountant, and his wife, Sara Jane (née Jones), who ran a drapery business. They were both amateur musicians. She was a musical child, showing great talent at an early age and received piano lessons early on. While in her teens she appeared as a soloist in a performance of the Grieg Piano Concerto. At 16 she began to study piano and composition with Dr David Evans in Cardiff and had her first published work, a hymn tune entitled “Morfydd”, produced in 1909. After attending Pontypridd County School and two years of study with Evans, Owen won a scholarship to study at University College, Cardiff and was formally admitted into the composition class. Many of her works were performed in student recitals at Cardiff, and she graduated in 1912. The same year, she was admitted to the Gorsedd of the Bards at the Wrexham National Eisteddfod under the name Morfydd Llwyn Owen,